Dragon Ball has been one of the most successful anime and manga franchises for decades, topping popularity charts and raking in unbelievable earnings for the better part of 40 years. Even during its long period of inactivity in the 2000s, the series remained incredibly successful thanks to gaming and merchandise, while exposure in the West caused its popularity to skyrocket without the need for new releases. Dragon Ball's 2010s renaissance then introduced an entirely new generation to Goku's heroic feats, and the franchise's success continued.

Now, in a year that saw the series' first TV anime release of the 2020s, Bandai Namco reported that Dragon Ball shattered their record for single-year earnings with 190.6 billion yen in revenue. The number far exceeds their 2023 earnings of 140.6 billion yen, and dethrones Mobile Suit Gundam as Bandai Namco's top-performing IP. The legendary mecha franchise brought in 153.5 billion yen, while One Piece came in at third with 139.5 billion. The continued success of Dragon Ball is incredibly impressive, but leads to the question: where on Earth is Dragon Ball Super?

Dragon Ball Just Broke a Major Record, So Where's Super?

The Hit Anime Series Has Yet to Return Since Ending in 2018

A large reason for Dragon Ball's continued popularity is the hit 2015 anime, Dragon Ball Super, which extended Goku's story beyond Akira Toriyama's original manga and breathed new life into the four-decade-old franchise. After reaching its conclusion in 2018, the series' counterpart manga of the same name continued far beyond the anime's endpoint, prompting fans to wonder when its events would return to screens. Though two theatrical films brandishing the Dragon Ball Super name have been released during that time, the anime has yet to resume.

For a franchise as profitable as Dragon Ball continues to be, the lack of an ongoing anime series is strange. Reports consistently communicate that the IP makes money, yet those profiting from it aren't taking advantage of its built-in viewer base. Fans have made their frustrations over the situation known, though it isn't quite as simple as just green-lighting Super's return.

Weekly Toyo Keizai, a Japanese magazine, reported that the franchise has been stuck in a battle over its rights since Akira Toriyama's ing in March 2024. Producer Akio Iyoku previously oversaw the series with Shueisha, until he was unexpectedly removed from the position in 2022, a move that angered Toriyama and led to both starting Capsule Corporation Tokyo. Toriyama trusted Iyoku and wished for him to continue leading the series from the new company, though Shueisha wasn't entirely on board.

Now, Iyoku oversees Dragon Ball's anime and multimedia projects from Capsule Corp Tokyo, while Shueisha continues to be in charge of any manga releases. The friction between both parties doesn't bode well for any future adaptations of the Dragon Ball Super manga, but it doesn't completely rule out an anime continuation.

Dragon Ball Super Can Return, But With a Catch

Anime-Original Releases Will Likely Be the Future of the Franchise

Fans probably shouldn't get their hopes up that Dragon Ball Super's manga will be adapted into an anime format any time soon, though it's possible they haven't seen the last of the series just yet. Like both Dragon Ball Super: Broly and Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, anime-original content, especially films, is likely still on the table. Akio Iyoku recently stressed that he and other producers two unnamed movies are currently in the works, one of which fans believe may be a Dragon Ball production.

Unfortunately, Dragon Ball Super has found itself in a tough spot with heated rights disputes and strained relationships between production houses. Nevertheless, the franchise remains incredibly successful, and as long as there is money to be made, fans likely haven't seen the last of the series just yet. Now that the Dragon Ball Daima anime has reached its conclusion, news of future releases could come at any time.